That way he would not only have someone with clout filling in for him during his frequent travels abroad, but she could give the normally passive governor the punch he needs during the closing days of his lame-duck administration.

The need to have someone like Campatelli at his side became apparent when Patrick could not even get one of four members of the much maligned Governor's Council, all eight of whom are fellow Democrats, to vote with him. This came when the council, on a 4-4 tie vote, shot down his nomination of Joseph S. Berman of Weston to the Superior Court.

For a governor to be pushed around by the malleable Governor's Council is a rare -- and embarrassing -- event. These things are not supposed to happen, not in the Statehouse where everybody is a Democrat. Patrick, however, has never been known to punch above his weight.

It is arguable that the Berman appointment might have gone through if former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, a voting member of the council, were still around. But Murray resigned some time ago, and the office has been vacant. Enter Campatelli, who is a public official in her own right. She was elected in 2012 and is seeking re-election.

Some might argue that such an appointment would be unconstitutional, but Patrick, like his friend Barack Obama, has a pen and a phone, and surely could make it happen

Campatelli, as you may know, is on administrative leave after punching out a male employee.

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The bloody altercation, which she denies, allegedly took place when the pair rode home in the back seat of a car following a night of Christmas partying at two Boston bars on Dec. 18. Fellow partygoers said Campatelli had been loud and profane while drinking with the guy before allegedly giving him a bloody knuckle sandwich. So she cold-cocked the guy. Hey, these things happen at office Christmas parties. And maybe he had it coming.

As Patrick's lieutenant governor, Campatelli's ominous presence alone in the chambers of the Governor's Council would probably be enough to persuade members to think twice before voting against the governor. She is not only bigger and tougher than Patrick but packs a wallop as well.

In addition, it would show everyone that Patrick is on the right side of the issue when it comes to the war against women. After all, if you are going to name a woman to a high political office, you have to make sure that she is bossy and aggressive enough to do the job. It would also show that Patrick is not afraid of having strong women around him, only strong men.

Look at it this way: Campatelli is an elected official who is paid $122,500. Right now, on suspension, she has nothing to do except petition the Supreme Judicial Court to allow her to return to work. What better use of her time than to assume the duties of the lieutenant governor?

She could frighten too many people on Beacon Hill, though. The roguish days of legislators brawling in the parking lot outside the old Golden Dome Pub after a night of drinking are a thing of the melancholy past.

Another problem is the report issued by appointed investigator Ronald P. Corbett, which is also before the Supreme Court. The report accuses Campatelli of having created "a fearful atmosphere" in the 40-member register's office long before she allegedly punched out the guy.

Yet this is exactly the type of muscle the governor needs at the Statehouse, where nobody fears him. If he can't dominate the much ridiculed Governor's Council, how in the world, people ask, can he possibly stand up as a lame duck to Senate President Therese Murray, another formidable woman, or House Speaker Robert DeLeo?

The Corbett report, leaked to The Boston Globe, alleges that Campatelli "typically" showed up for work only three days a week and even then put in "abbreviated days," leaving at around 3 p.m. She frequently worked only 15 hours a week.

That is equivalent to the average working day of members of the Massachusetts Legislature, let alone the Governor's Council, which meets only once a week, or even members of the Supreme Court. As a matter of fact, Campatelli's working day is even longer than the governor's.

Whatever happens, Campatelli, once an unknown political figure in an obscure office, is becoming a household name. Maybe she should run for governor. Her campaign slogan? "Vote Campatelli, or else."

Peter Lucas' political column appears Tuesday and Friday. Email him at luke1825@aol.com.

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